Base plate for outdoor gym sets

ABSTRACT

Secured to a base plate and extending upwardly therefrom at an acute angle is a tubular member adapted to receive an inclined leg of an outdoor gym set. The tubular member carries clamping means for securely holding the leg within the member. The plate and attached leg are anchored by driving into the ground a pin having a portion passing through an aperture formed in the plate. The aperture lies substantially in the axial plane of the tubular member and is located so that the member is inclined away from the aperture. The device provides a firm support for a gym leg and restrains it against sinking into the ground.

United States Patent 1191 Sheehy Oct; 8, 1974 [5 BASE PLATE FOR OUTDOOR GYM SETS 3.655,l60 4/1972 Grillot 52/155 x [76] Inventor: Francis M. Sheehy, Rt. 3, Faribault,

Minn. 55021 Primary ExaminerPr1ce C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmG. A. Ellestad [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1973 [21] Appi. No.: 389,351 57 ABSTRACT Secured to a base plate and extending upwardly there- [52] US. Cl 248/1883, 52/158, 52/298, from at an acute angle is a tubular member adapted to 248/156 receive an inclined leg of an outdoor gym-set. The tu- [51] hit. C|.....'. F16m 11/22 bulm. member carries clamping means f securely [58] Field of Search 52/ 155, l62, 165, 292, holding the leg within the member The plate and 4 52/298, 296, 704, 23; 248/156, 188-8 tached leg are anchored by driving into theground a pin having a portion passing through an aperture [56] References formed in the plate. The aperture lies substantially in UNITED STATES PATENTS the axial plane of the tubular member and is located 823,441 6 1906 Robinson; 52/158 x so that the member is inclined away from the aperl.10l.307 6/ 1914' McDOnough 52/298 ture. The device provides a firm support for a gym leg 1.402.561 1/1922 Banks 5.2/298 X d restrains it against sinking into the ground. 2,661,918 12/1953 Riggs 52/298 x 3.295.274 l/l967 Fulton 52/157 X 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures BASE PLATE FOR OUTDOOR GYM SETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to outdoor gym sets of the type in which a swing or the like is supported by a crossbar carried by pairs of legs extending downwardly in diverging relationship from the crossbar to the ground. The legs are usually formed of steel pipe, about two inches or less in diameter, and generally rest on the ground so they have a tendency to sink into the ground in varying amounts and thereby provide an uneven support for the crossbar. Frequently, when the gym sets are in rather rigorous use, the legs will be moved repeatedly off and onto the ground so that a firm support for the set is not possible. To overcome this problem, the prior art has provided an anchoring pin which is forced into the ground and is connected by a short chain to a clamp secured around the lower end of the leg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention are to provide a combined base plate and anchor for the inclined legs of an outdoor gym set which will be simple in structure yet convenient and efficient in use and which will be adapted to provide a firm support for said legs.

According to the invention, a plate has a tubular member secured thereto and extending upwardly at an acute angle to receive an inclined leg of an outdoor gym set. The leg is releaseably secured within the member by suitable clamping means. The plate and attached leg are anchored in place by driving into the ground a pin which has a portion coacting with portions on the plate to hold the plate fixed to the ground. In the preferred form, the pin has a portion passing through an aperture formed in the plate and with the aperture lying substantially in the axial plane of the tubular member and located so that the member is inclined away from the aperture. The aperture may be formed in a downwardly extending portion of the plate so that the pin will be driven into the ground at a slant thereto and so increase its holding action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings wherein indicates, generally, the combined base plate and anchor comprising the plate 11 to which is secured, as by welding, the short tubular member 12 which extends upwardly therefrom at an acute angle. The upper portion of member 12 is cut at 13 to provide a clamping portion having two spaced ears 14 for coaction with bolt 15 for releaseably securing a leg which is adapted to be received within the member 12. The bottom edge of member 12 is provided with an opening 16 so as to prevent accumulation of water in the member 12.

In order to anchor the plate and attached leg to the ground, one or more pins may be driven into the ground so that portions on the pins will coact with portions on the plate to hold the assembly in place. In the preferred form, the plate 11 has a downwardly extend-- ing portion 17 which is provided with the single aperture 18. The plate may be anchored by driving into the ground a pin having a portion passing through the aperture. Thus, a headed pin may be used or a pin 19 having at its head a downwardly extending lug 20 which passes through the aperture 18 as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, the lower end of each leg L of the outdoor gym set is placed within a tubular member 12 so that the leg rests on a plate 11. The legs are then releaseably secured to the plates and members by tightening the bolts 15. Anchoring pins such as pin 19 are then driven into the ground to anchor the plates and attached legs. By forming the aperture 18 in the downwardly extending portion 17 of plate 11, the pin 19 is driven into the ground slantwise so that greater holding action. is obtained. When gym sets are in rigorous use, the ends of the legs move up and down in a vertical plane unless anchored by some means. Hence, the plate and attached leg may be firmly anchored with a single pin by placing the aperture 17. in plate 11 substantially in the axial plane of the tubular member 12 and so located that the member 12 is inclined away from the aperture 17.

Various modifications may obviously be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A base plate for the inclined legs of an outdoor gym set comprising a plate, a tubular member fixedly secured to and extending upwardly from said plate at an acute angle thereto for receiving a leg of a gym set therein whereby the leg rests on at least a portion of the plate, means for releaseably securing the leg within the tubular member, and means for anchoring the plate to the ground comprising a downwardly projecting portion on the plate, said portion having formed therein an aperture which lies substantially in the axial plane of the tubular member which extends away from the aperture, and a headed pin adapted to pass through the aperture and into the ground whereby the plate will be anchored to the ground and a gym set leg received in the tubular member will be held in place and restrained against sinking into the ground. 

1. A base plate for the inclined legs of an outdoor gym set comprising a plate, a tubular member fixedly secured to and extending upwardly from said plate at an acute angle thereto for receiving a leg of a gym set therein whereby the leg rests on at least a portion of the plate, means for releaseably securing the leg within the tubular member, and means for anchoring the plate to the ground comprising a downwardly projecting portion on the plate, said portion having formed therein an aperture which lies substantially in the axial plane of the tubular member which extends away from the aperture, and a headed pin adapted to pass through the aperture and into the ground whereby the plate will be anchored to the ground and a gym set leg received in the tubular member will be held in place and restrained against sinking into the ground. 